One rival to another: W. Alamance recruit changes from N. Carolina to N.C. State

By Bob Sutton / Times-News

Published: Wednesday, August 21, 2013 at 01:02 AM.

N.C. State baseball coaches reached out after Deatherage pulled back from North Carolina. He originally received a baseball offer from the Wolfpack about 14 months ago. He said it was one of the first he had received.

“It has been a long time,” he said. “I had no clue they were still interested. We’ve always enjoyed State, the coaches there and the facilities.”

He grew up an N.C. State fan and his family has supported the Wolfpack.

“He’s tickled to death and we were, too,” said David Deatherage, his father. “It’s a lot of pluses for him.”

North Carolina and N.C. State played in the College World Series this year, so they rank among the top baseball programs nationally.

Senior Brett Williams was N.C. State’s center fielder this year, with rising junior Jake Fincher (who batted .313) potentially moving to that spot from right field. Fincher could be a 2014 draft prospect. That would leave an opening by the time Deatherage arrives.

“They’re giving me a very, very good opportunity to compete and play center field as a freshman,” he said.

North Carolina State came inquiring again with Western Alamance rising senior Brock Deatherage and this time he took the Wolfpack’s offer to play baseball.

Deatherage gave coach Elliott Avent a verbal commitment Tuesday during a visit to campus.

It came less than a week after he withdrew from a similar commitment he made to rival North Carolina more than a year ago, citing the need to find a better fit and suggesting he rushed into the decision only midway through his high school years.

“It’s a big relief,” Deatherage said after the latest recruiting trip to Raleigh. “I got there and that’s where I needed to be. We spent a lot of time with Coach Avent and Coach (Chris) Hart and they made me a great offer.”

Deatherage, a center fielder who also has perked the interest of professional scouts, can ink a national letter-of-intent during the November signing period.

He said N.C. State’s academic offerings are more in line with his interests in agriculture and engineering. He’s likely to pursue course studies in one of those areas, he said.

Deatherage, a standout defensive back and receiver in football, said he’ll be done with that sport when Western Alamance’s season ends this autumn. He had been a football recruiting target of N.C. State (before the coaching change last November) and other colleges for that sport.

N.C. State baseball coaches reached out after Deatherage pulled back from North Carolina. He originally received a baseball offer from the Wolfpack about 14 months ago. He said it was one of the first he had received.

“It has been a long time,” he said. “I had no clue they were still interested. We’ve always enjoyed State, the coaches there and the facilities.”

He grew up an N.C. State fan and his family has supported the Wolfpack.

“He’s tickled to death and we were, too,” said David Deatherage, his father. “It’s a lot of pluses for him.”

North Carolina and N.C. State played in the College World Series this year, so they rank among the top baseball programs nationally.

Senior Brett Williams was N.C. State’s center fielder this year, with rising junior Jake Fincher (who batted .313) potentially moving to that spot from right field. Fincher could be a 2014 draft prospect. That would leave an opening by the time Deatherage arrives.

“They’re giving me a very, very good opportunity to compete and play center field as a freshman,” he said.